Use-Case – SMITH JB1350 Ride-on Sweeper

The Challenge

A metal fabrication facility near Graz, Austria operates an outdoor yard of approximately 12,000 m² used for loading, storage, and truck movement. Previously, yard cleanliness depended on two walk-behind sweepers and manual broom sweeping.

Dust and metal debris often built up, creating slip risks and visible dust clouds whenever forklifts passed through. Despite two full-time operators plus additional overtime, some areas were only thoroughly cleaned every other day, and customer audits regularly cited dust management as a concern.

Manual Process

The earlier process used walk-behind sweepers for main pathways, with manual broom cleaning around loading docks, storage racks, and corners.

Before Automation:

• Daily area cleaned: 12,000 m²/day
• Cycle rate per machine: 1,500 m²/h per walk-behind sweeper plus manual broom labor
• Total daily labor: 2 operators × 7 h + 2 h overtime sweeping = 16 h/day
• Labor expense: 16 h/day × €25/h = €400/day
• Rework/issues: Roughly 4 re-sweeps/week due to dust complaints and audit notes

Even with two walk-behind sweepers, cleaning speed was limited. These machines slowed down on outdoor concrete and asphalt, and frequent dustbin emptying and bag replacements led to more downtime. Corners, loading zones, and fence lines still required broom work, often pushed into overtime hours.

Automated Solution

To streamline labor and enhance air quality, the facility purchased a SMITH JB1350 Ride-on Sweeper to handle all outdoor cleaning in a single, organized route.

After Adding SMITH JB1350 Ride-on Sweeper:

• Machine runs at 60% of its top capacity for consistent performance
• Updated cycle rate: 8,000 m²/h × 60% = 4,800 m²/h effective
• Total daily labor: 12,000 m² ÷ 4,800 m²/h ≈ 2.5 h sweeping + 2 h spot/detail work = 4.5 h/day
• Labor expense: 4.5 h/day × €25/h = €112.50/day, rounded to €125/day including inspections and charging
• Quality gains: More than 60% fewer dust complaints and almost no re-sweeps

The 120 L dustbin reduced emptying to once per route, eliminating multiple bag changes. The built-in misting and vacuum system greatly reduced airborne dust, and the over 6-hour runtime allowed one operator to clean the entire yard and parking areas within a single shift.

ROI Calculation

Investment:
Machine cost: €4,999
Daily savings: Before: €400/day – After: €125/day = €275/day direct labor
Additional labor reduction (eliminated overtime and manual broom work): ≈ €100/day
Total daily savings: €275/day + €100/day = €375/day
Monthly savings (22 workdays): €375/day × 22 = €8,250/month
Payback period: €4,999 ÷ €375/day ≈ 13.3 days (less than 1 month of use)

Even if the facility conservatively credits only €850/week of savings to the JB1350 (factoring in maintenance and admin), the payback is still very fast:
€850/week × 4.3 weeks ≈ €3,655/month
Payback period (conservative): €4,999 ÷ €3,655/month ≈ 1.37 months (about 6 weeks)

Conclusion

By switching from two walk-behind sweepers and manual broom cleaning to a single SMITH JB1350 Ride-on Sweeper, the facility reduced daily sweeping time from 16 hours to 4.5 hours and nearly eliminated overtime. Dust complaints dropped significantly, and outdoor areas now consistently meet customer audit standards.

“Switching to the SMITH JB1350 let us go from two and a half people spending 16 hours a day sweeping to one operator covering the same 12,000 m² in about 4.5 hours. We are saving about €375 per day and saw payback in just over a month.” — Markus Huber, Maintenance Manager, Stahlwerk Graz GmbH/Austria